Then again, a degree is just a piece of paper. A master's might lead to a new job or pay increase, but once you're in the work world, how do you stay one step ahead?

The answer: treat every day of your life as a master's degree.

Here's what I mean

1. In the real world, no one is handing out grades or tabulating GPAs. You are now seeking your post-master's degree, and there is no curriculum. All that counts is how hard you're willing to work on yourself.

2. There is a how-to blog post for just about every piece of technology or trick of the trade. Don't get frustrated and give up; just google it.

3. Use job postings (ex: Craigslist) in your industry to understand what employers crave. The more specific, the better. Here's a list of optimal skills for a programmer at a travel company in DC:

Six years ago, I earned my master's in journalism from the University of Maryland-College Park. From then on, I have been pursuing my lifelong master's degree. This time around, there is no graduation, commencement speech (like this one from a 26-year-old), mortarboard or tassels. I am still enrolled and have no plans of quitting. A devotion to new skills is the only way up.